How could Maggie understand the other side? How could Maggie understand the euphoria of combat, of killing a man who was trying to kill you?
With no experience in such matters, she would interpret such a confession as bloodlust.
And that was not the case. War is a travesty. But it is a complicated travesty. Its nuances are best discussed between veterans… or not at all.
But Will wouldn’t lie to her, so he merely said, “I’m glad it’s over. I missed home.”
She smiled at that. “We missed you, too. I sure am glad you’re back, Will.”
He smiled back at her, feeling something between them, something warm and exciting, something he had never experienced before. “Thank you for letting my family stay with you.”
“They did the same for me after the raiders came.”
“Well, now that I’m home, I’ll provide for you as if you were my sister.”
“That’s nice to know.” She was quiet for a moment, then smiled slyly. “You don’t think of me as a sister, though, do you, Will?”
“No, I don’t.”
“That’s good.”
Will felt that thing between them grow stronger. “Why’s that?”
“I won’t tell you. A girl needs her secrets.”
“All right,” he chuckled. “You have your secrets.”
“For now,” she said.
They sat quietly for a time, surrounded by the sounds of the night bugs as darkness fell. With the moon out and distracted as he was by Maggie, Will barely noticed night’s arrival.
“So,” Maggie said, “is there a Mrs. Bentley?”
“Sure,” Will said. “I thought you knew her.”
Even in the gloom, Will could see Maggie’s face twist with surprise and disappointment. “I do?”
“Sure you know her,” he said with a grin. “Mrs. Bentley is Mama’s name.”
Maggie smirked at him. “Stop teasing. You know what I mean. Are you married?”
“No, ma’am, I am not.”
One corner of her pretty mouth lifted slightly. Then she asked, “Engaged?”
“Nope.”
“Have a girlfriend waiting on you back in Colorado?”
“Loads of them.”
Maggie frowned.
Realizing she had missed his joke, Will said, “I’m just yanking your chain, Maggie. There’s nobody back there. Never was.”
She cuffed him in the arm. “You quit teasing me, Will Bentley.”
“All right. You want the truth of it? I never met any women in Colorado. I was always working. And even if I had time for that sort of thing, I wasn’t going to spend money like that. I saved my money in case Mama or Rose needed anything. So no, I never had a woman.”
